The Compassion Of Jesus
There's a crucial difference between feeling bad for someone and actually doing something about it. Today, I want to talk about compassion, specifically, the compassion of Jesus that reveals the Father's love for us.
But first, let's clarify something important. Last week we talked about grace, God's undeserved favor, giving us what we don't deserve, like salvation through Jesus.
Compassion is different. Compassion is about deep concern that moves to action. Grace addresses our eternal need, forgiveness and relationship with God. Compassion addresses our present needs: hunger, sickness, loneliness, pain.
But first, let's clarify something important. Last week we talked about grace, God's undeserved favor, giving us what we don't deserve, like salvation through Jesus.
Compassion is different. Compassion is about deep concern that moves to action. Grace addresses our eternal need, forgiveness and relationship with God. Compassion addresses our present needs: hunger, sickness, loneliness, pain.
The Heart of the Father
When we look at Jesus's compassion, we're actually seeing the Father's heart. In John 5:19, Jesus said, "The Son can do nothing by himself. He can only do what he sees his Father doing."
Go all the way back to the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve fell, God acted compassionately. He came looking for them, calling out, "Where are you?" He covered them with animal skins. He even gave them a promise about defeating the serpent; a promise fulfilled in Jesus on the cross.
After the Israelites worshiped the golden calf, God described himself to Moses this way: "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness" (Exodus 34:6). That's God's self-description—compassionate.
And in the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus illustrated the Father's compassion perfectly. While the son was still far off, "his father saw him and felt compassion and ran and embraced and kissed him" (Luke 15:20).
The father restored the son, put a robe on him, a ring on his finger, and threw a celebration. That's our heavenly Father's heart toward us.
Go all the way back to the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve fell, God acted compassionately. He came looking for them, calling out, "Where are you?" He covered them with animal skins. He even gave them a promise about defeating the serpent; a promise fulfilled in Jesus on the cross.
After the Israelites worshiped the golden calf, God described himself to Moses this way: "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness" (Exodus 34:6). That's God's self-description—compassionate.
And in the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus illustrated the Father's compassion perfectly. While the son was still far off, "his father saw him and felt compassion and ran and embraced and kissed him" (Luke 15:20).
The father restored the son, put a robe on him, a ring on his finger, and threw a celebration. That's our heavenly Father's heart toward us.
What Compassion Is NOT
Before we go further, let's clarify what we don't want to mistake for compassion:
The word "compassion" comes from the Latin compassio, meaning "to suffer with." Webster defines it as "the sympathetic consciousness of another's distress together with a desire to alleviate it." That alleviating part, that's compassion.
Going beyond just seeing it to actually doing something about it.
- Pity acknowledges something. "Oh, poor guy. That stinks to be you."
- Sympathy feels. You send a card to someone who's sick or grieving.
- Empathy understands. Someone in similar circumstances can relate to your situation.
- Compassion acts. It takes action.
The word "compassion" comes from the Latin compassio, meaning "to suffer with." Webster defines it as "the sympathetic consciousness of another's distress together with a desire to alleviate it." That alleviating part, that's compassion.
Going beyond just seeing it to actually doing something about it.
Jesus: Our Ultimate Example
Jesus demonstrated compassion in powerful ways. He frequently healed the sick, blind, deaf, and paralyzed, not just to show His power, but out of deep compassion.
His miracles were preceded by emotional identification with those He touched. He didn't heal mechanically. He got down to their level, saw people for who they were, and had great compassion not to leave them.
In the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus was grieving John the Baptist's death. He tried to get away to a quiet place, but the crowds followed. Matthew 14:14 says, "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and began healing their sick." Then He fed 5,000 people because He knew they hadn't brought food.
Jesus had compassion for outcasts. When a leper begged, "If you are willing, you can make me clean," Jesus was "moved with compassion, reached out his hand and touched him and said, 'I am willing. Be made clean'" (Mark 1:41). People thrown away by society, Jesus went to them and brought restoration.
In the story of the Good Samaritan, a Jewish man was beaten, robbed, and left in a ditch. A priest walked by. A Levite walked by. But a Samaritan, someone who wasn't supposed to care about Jews, stopped. "When he saw him, he had compassion" (Luke 10:33). He bandaged wounds, took the man to an inn, and paid for his care.
When we speak of Jesus's compassion, Jesus didn't just feel, He also took action. He never offered pity. He didn't pat people on the head and walk away. He touched them. He healed them. He listened. He wept. He even resurrected a friend. He fed them and restored them.
His miracles were preceded by emotional identification with those He touched. He didn't heal mechanically. He got down to their level, saw people for who they were, and had great compassion not to leave them.
In the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus was grieving John the Baptist's death. He tried to get away to a quiet place, but the crowds followed. Matthew 14:14 says, "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and began healing their sick." Then He fed 5,000 people because He knew they hadn't brought food.
Jesus had compassion for outcasts. When a leper begged, "If you are willing, you can make me clean," Jesus was "moved with compassion, reached out his hand and touched him and said, 'I am willing. Be made clean'" (Mark 1:41). People thrown away by society, Jesus went to them and brought restoration.
In the story of the Good Samaritan, a Jewish man was beaten, robbed, and left in a ditch. A priest walked by. A Levite walked by. But a Samaritan, someone who wasn't supposed to care about Jews, stopped. "When he saw him, he had compassion" (Luke 10:33). He bandaged wounds, took the man to an inn, and paid for his care.
When we speak of Jesus's compassion, Jesus didn't just feel, He also took action. He never offered pity. He didn't pat people on the head and walk away. He touched them. He healed them. He listened. He wept. He even resurrected a friend. He fed them and restored them.
The Ultimate Act of Compassion
The crucifixion is the supreme example of Jesus's compassion. "No one has greater love than this, than to lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Jesus suffered and died to take the place for our sins.
From the cross, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them because they don't know what they're doing" (Luke 23:34). He was praying for those who crucified Him, not just Roman soldiers, but the religious leaders who instigated His death. He wanted to see them come to a real relationship with God.
And to the thief on the cross who said, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom," Jesus replied, "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43), showing compassion to someone who moments before had been cursing Him.
From the cross, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them because they don't know what they're doing" (Luke 23:34). He was praying for those who crucified Him, not just Roman soldiers, but the religious leaders who instigated His death. He wanted to see them come to a real relationship with God.
And to the thief on the cross who said, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom," Jesus replied, "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43), showing compassion to someone who moments before had been cursing Him.
A Word of Caution
Here's something important: Compassion isn't permission. It's an invitation to healing and transformation. We have a saying at our church: "It's okay not to be okay, but it's not okay to stay that way."
When you're receiving compassion, don't take it for granted. Don't treat compassion as a license to continue in unhealthy or sinful ways. Don't manipulate other people's kindness or use mercy to avoid responsibility.
The Israelites abused God's mercy in the wilderness, constantly complaining even as God met their needs. Judas watched Jesus minister for years, then betrayed Him because Jesus didn't do what Judas wanted.
Abusing compassion dulls grace. It hurts the helpers. It fosters immaturity, keeping you stuck without growth. Jesus's compassion meets us where we are, but it never leaves us there. If we're in tune with what Jesus is doing in our hearts, we should want to change.
When you're receiving compassion, don't take it for granted. Don't treat compassion as a license to continue in unhealthy or sinful ways. Don't manipulate other people's kindness or use mercy to avoid responsibility.
The Israelites abused God's mercy in the wilderness, constantly complaining even as God met their needs. Judas watched Jesus minister for years, then betrayed Him because Jesus didn't do what Judas wanted.
Abusing compassion dulls grace. It hurts the helpers. It fosters immaturity, keeping you stuck without growth. Jesus's compassion meets us where we are, but it never leaves us there. If we're in tune with what Jesus is doing in our hearts, we should want to change.
The Right Response
To follow Christ is to reflect His compassion. We need to offer mercy, a path to forgiveness, not just forgiving forward, but offering salvation to those who need Jesus. We need to offer hope and prayer for healing.
The right response to compassion is repentance, gratitude, and transformation. We don't earn it, but we honor it by letting it change us. When you truly receive compassion, you don't want to keep doing the thing that broke you. You want to get well.
Romans 2:4 says, "Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead us to repentance?"
The right response to compassion is repentance, gratitude, and transformation. We don't earn it, but we honor it by letting it change us. When you truly receive compassion, you don't want to keep doing the thing that broke you. You want to get well.
Romans 2:4 says, "Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead us to repentance?"
Don't Just Feel Something—Do Something
Make that call of reconciliation. Deliver the meal. Sit with the grieving. Include the lonely. Serve the disabled. Get involved in ministry. The challenge is: Don't just feel something, do something.
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it'll be too late."
Who is God calling you to show compassion to today? Not pity. Not sympathy. Not even just empathy. Compassion = love that takes action.
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it'll be too late."
Who is God calling you to show compassion to today? Not pity. Not sympathy. Not even just empathy. Compassion = love that takes action.